Children and Women in Social Service and Human Rights (CWISH)

Humanitarian Response to Children in Post-Earthquake Situation

The most devastating earthquake of 7.6 on the Richter scale struck Nepal on 25th April and 6.8 Richter scale

on May 12th causing widespread death, destruction and displacement of people. According to the data of

Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal created by the Government of Nepal, till date (May 20, 2015) 8,622

people have lost their lives and 16,808 people are injured. 3424 people died in Sindhupalchowk only.

The highly affected 14 districts are Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Gorkha, Dhading, Nuwakot, Kathmandu,

Rasuwa, Bhaktapur, Kavre, Lalitpur, Ramechhap, Makawanpur, Solukhumbu and Okhaldhunga. There are

more casualties in Sindhupalchowk, Kathmandu valley, Dolakha, Dhading, Gorkha and Kavre. Around 15%

houses in these districts are collapsed while 95% and 90% damaged in Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk

respectively. Total of 4,887,774 public houses are destroyed where 260,735 houses are partially destroyed

in the affected districts. Most of the houses of remote villages have been totally collapsed caused hundreds

of thousands people homeless.

According to the initial report of Department of Education (DOE), 7093 schools are damaged, estimated

870,000 children are out of school due to earthquake. Further, 24,974 classrooms are destroyed (totally

collapsed/majorly damaged) where 20,071 (public) and 4,903 (private) school classrooms. Similarly, 9,986

classrooms have minor damage. As estimated by DOE, there is a need of 15,000 ‘Temporary Learning

Centers (TLCs)’ in the affected schools to resume the classes and it is proposing for TLCs and psychosocial

counseling support to teachers to ensure the protective environment for children and prepare teachers and

students to go to schools.

To response the post-earthquake situation, CWISH has been supporting children in 5 affected districts;

Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Dhading, Kavre to have access to a protective and safe environment for

children that will allow for efficient learning and trauma healing after the earthquake. In this post-earthquake

situation, CWISH has been conducting following activities:

Child Friendly Spaces (CFSs)

- for children to have a place to play, learn and stay safe

Psychosocial counseling to traumatized children - early intervention prevents PTSD

Psychosocial counseling orientation to teachers

- for identification and intervention at CFSs and TLCs

Establishment of Temporary Learning Centers (TLCs)

- to ensure continuity of education

Information desks / Check-points

- to prevent child trafficking

Transit Center in Dhading

- for children unknown on whereabouts of families and vulnerable

Supporting to pregnant women, lactating mothers and infants with nutritious food, warm clothes

- to ensure a safe start at life for the most vulnerable

Radio Message / Public Social Announcements (PSAs)

- to raise awareness on child protection in post earthquake

1. Child Friendly Space (CFS): A space

where children enjoy with recreational

and learning activities is child friendly

space. The recreational and learning

materials are availed in each of the

centers. These CFS are established in

coordination with Protection Cluster.

The CFS is in good supervision of

teachers who have received trainings

in psychosocial counseling organized

by CWISH.

CWISH established 15 such centers in

different places of Kathmandu Valley

and 2 in Kavre district. More than 1000

children are benefiting from such

centers. Now, 12 CFS are functioning

while 5 CFS in Baniyatar, Champi,

Suryabinayak and Madhyapur are

closed after the second quake. These

centers is well appreciated by the

community people as children enjoy

learning while playing and are more

secure within the centers. Parents also say that they are relieved sending their children in CFS during

this unpredictable disastrous situation. The details of CFS is in Annex 2;

"Everything was getting normal gradually. But the second earthquake on May 12 terrified us. Thank

God our children were in Child friendly Space at that time otherwise anything could have happened.

We appreciate the work of CWISH in providing protective environment."

- Parent of a child attending CFS in Bhaktapur

2. Establishment of Temporary Learning Centers (TLCs): The quake has brought mayhem in 7093

schools. CWISH has started to setup 20 TLCs in Lalitpur district with the support of UNICEF. The TLCs

are also being established in Ramechhap and Dhading in the coordination of DEO.

3. Psychosocial counseling to the

traumatized children: The earthquake

has caused psychological effect among

people. Post traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD) is seen among children. CWISH

has been providing psychosocial

counseling to the traumatized children

from established CFS. Counselors and

trained teachers who have received

psychosocial counseling training observe,

identify and provide counseling to

vulnerable and affected children.The

severe cases are referred for necessary

interventions. A total of 150 such children

have been benefited.

4. Psychosocial counseling training to

the teachers: CWISH has been providing

psychosocial counseling training

especially trauma counseling to the

teachers of Kathmandu valley.864

teachers have been trained till May 12. We are further providing the training.

5. Radio Message / Public Social Announcements (PSAs):

CWISH aired PSAs related to earthquake awareness, post

earthquake and child protection issues through Nepal FM,

Radio Sagarmatha and local stations of 7 districts. Nepal FM

(91.8 MHz), in Kathmandu valley plays the PSA 20 – 30 times

per day. The same PSA is also aired through Prime FM 104.5

MHz in Kavre, Radio Melamchi 107.2 MHz in

Sindhupalchowk and Radio Dhading 106 MHz in Dhading

district. The PSA has been aired about 20-30 times in the

stations.The situation of children in post earthquake is aired

every Wednesday in program titled 'Ajakakura' at 8 PM from

Radio Sagarmatha.

6. Information desk / Check Post: In post earthquake

situation, children are vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and

violence. Children are in risk of separation from families.

CWISH collaborated with Protection Cluster, District Police and District Child Welfare Board to establish

information desk including police check post in Dhading (Malekhu and Gajuri). Similarly, CWISH

together with District Child Welfare Board, District Police and Save the Children are setting-up

Information Desk in 8 different places of Kavre. Further, Check Post has been setup in Sindhupalchowk

(Bandeu, Melamchi and Bhotechaur) by protection cluster partners.

a. 46 children claimed as orphan

were unnecessarily separated

from families from Ree VDC and

Jharlang VDC, Dhading were

brought towards Kathmandu.

Considering the case of child

trafficking, Central Child Welfare

Board (CCWB), sent back these

children to Dhading. They are

staying in Transit Center in

Dhadingbesi managed by District

Child Welfare Board, CWISH and

other protection cluster partners.

Out of 46, only 3 had lost their

parents. Please follow this link

about news coverage;

http://epaper.ekantipur.com/kantip

ur/showtext_ajax.aspx?boxid=154

414781&parentid=48109&issuedat

e=1752015

b. 2 children were on their way

towards Mahendranagar. They

were telling that someone was

waiting in Mahendranagar (Far

western region of Nepal) but were not sure. The Check Post managed by District Police and CWISH

in Highway identified it suspicious and hence rescued these children. These children are staying in

Transit Home in Dhadingbesi, Dhading. CWISH is tracing the family and planning for reintegration.

7. Transit Center: CWISH together with District Child Welfare Board Dhading and Protection Cluster

initiated to establish the ‘Transit Center' in Dhadingbesi, Dhading to provide immediate and alternative

care to the children. CWISH is tracing families and reintegrating children living in Transit Center.

8. Support to pregnant women, lactating mothers and infants: CWISH together with District Child

Welfare Board (DCWB) of Kathmandu and Lalitpur supported 200 lactating mothers and their neonatal

with nutritious food, warm clothes, napkins, towels, and dairy essentials.

Annex 1: List of supporters:

i. UNICEF

ii. EveryChild UK

iii. Save the Children

iv. AC International Denmark

v. Interpedia, Finland

vi. Embassy of Finland in Nepal

vii. TDH Germany

viii. Bikas Association, Belgium

ix. World Education

x. Alliance Française de Kathmandu

xi. Social Workers Association Nepal (SWAN)

xii. Prayas Nepal

xiii. Mahila Aatmanirbharta Kendra (MANK), Sindhupalchowk

xiv. Shrijanshil Yuba Samaj (SYS), Ramechhap

xv. Shreya Paudel / Monika Shrestha, UK

xvi. John Peel, Australia

xvii. Growing Holistic Approach for Rehabilitation (GHAR)

xviii. Radio Sagarmatha

xix. Nepal FM

xx. Prime FM, Kavre

xxi. Radio Melamchi

xxii. Radio Dhading

Annex 2: Child friendly Spaces (CFS)

S. No

Name of the place

VDC/ Municipality

Address No. of children

Organizers

KATHMANDU

1. Sankha Park Kathmandu metropolitan city, ward no. 2

Chabahil, Kathmandu

57 (28 girls and 28 boys)

CWISH / World Education / UNICEF

2. Army Camp KMC, 16 Balaju, Kathmandu

180 (85 girls and 94 boys)

CWISH / UNICEF

3. Rona International School*

Tokha Municipality, ward no. 12

Baniyatar, Kathmandu

60(Boys: 38, Girls: 22)

CWISH

4. White field International School

Sitapaila municipality, ward no. 5

Sitapaila, Kathmandu

66 (33 girls and 33 boys)

CWISH

5. Gram Sudhar L. S. S.

Gokarneswore, ward no.

Baluwa, Gokarna

95 (55 girls and 40 boys)

CWISH / SWAN

6. Pancha kanya School

Chaimale 37 (19 boys; 18 girls)

CWISH / SWAN

7. Swapna Vatika School

KMC- 10 Buddhanagar 38 (18 girls and 20 boys)

CWISH

8. Golden Peak SChool

KMC-6 Saraswotinagar, Chabahil

starting from 22nd

CWISH

May

BHAKTAPUR

9. Himalayan School

MadhyapurThimi Municipality, ward no. 3

Nikosera, Bhaktapur

90(Boys:43, Girls: 22)

CWISH / UNICEF/FHRD

10. Kamaretar MadhyapurThimi Municipality, Ward no. 8

Bhaktapur 70 (Boys: 41, Girls: 29)

CWISH/FHRD/MadhyapurThimi Municipality

11. Janapremi School*

MadhyapurThim Municipality, ward no. 15

Kausaltar , Bhaktapur

20(Boys:9, Girls: 11)

CWISH

12. Tara Ma. Vi* Bhaktapur Municipality, Ward no. 14

Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur

37(Boys:21, Girls:16)

CWISH / UNICEF

13. Pubu* MadhyapurThimi Municipality, Ward no. 8

Bhaktapur 70 (Boys: 41, Girls: 29)

CWISH/FHRD/MadhyapurThimi Municipality

14. Bhramanagartole

Antarlingeswore Municpality-5

Bhaktapur 85(Boys:41, Girls: 44)

CWISH/FHRD

LALITPUR

15. Phulchowki High School

Godavari municipality-10

Harisiddhi, Thaiba, Lalitpur

112 (41 boys and 71 Girls)

CWISH / UNICEF

16. NabaJyoti High School

Jharuwarasi V.D.C., ward no. 1

Jharuwarasi, Lalitpur

103 (Boys 47 and girls 56)

CWISH / UNICEF

17. Shree Shirngery Secondary Shool, Lamatar

Mahalaxmi municipality, ward no. 2

Lamatar, Lalitpur

103 (Boys 49 and Girls 54)

CWISH

18. Mahalaxmi High School

Mahalaxmi Municipality

Luvu, Lalitpur 99 (boys 31 and Girls 68)

CWISH

19. Ganesh Primary School

Karyavinayak, ward no. 14

Champi, Lalitpur

80 (boys 43 and girls 37)

CWISH

20. Phulchowk, LSMC office

LSMC - 3 Phulchowk 109 (boys 43 and girls 66)

CWISH/LSMC

21. Narayan Lower Secondary School

MahalaxmiMunciplaity, ward 11

Tikathali Starting on May 23

CWISH

KAVRE

22. Devitar, Devisthan

Devitar V.D.C., ward no. 1

Kavre Boys 17, girls 31

CWISH / Save the Children

23. Annaikot Paanchkhal municipality, ward no 15

Kavre Boys :30, firlgs 21

CWISH / Save the Children

** These Child Friendly Spaces are closed now.

Annex 3: Contact Details

Children and Women in Social Service and Human Rights (CWISH, Nepal)

Mr. Saroj KC, Program Manager

GPO Box; 21433, Tel:- 977-1-4780446, 4784545, 9841483741

Email:- info@cwish.org.np, saroj.kc@cwish.org.np

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cwishnepal ; Web:- www.cwish.org.np